Panel spacing and holding clip

ABSTRACT

Trim panels are held on by clips each of which has: a plurality of pegs or other means by which it may be applied to or engage a support; lugs or projections arranged to locate the adjacent edges of two panels against the clip; and means to engage and retain a finishing mould which is adapted to retain the panels against the clip and cover the joint between the panels.

United States Patent 1191 Fowler Dec. 18, 1973 1 1 PANEL SPACING ANDHOLDING CLIP [75] Inventor: Gerald Fowler, Chorley, England [73]Assignee: British Leyland Truck & Bus Ltd.,

Leyland, Lancashire, England 22 Filed: Jan. 29, 1971 21 Appl.No.:111,071

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3 9933032 2GreatB29919-41-3;----3;;7J! .Q.

[52] US. [51] Int. Cl. Fl6b 5/07 [58] Field of Search 287/l89.35, 189.36D,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,411 1/1940 Lowryl52/464 X 2,800,983 7/1957 7 T0ney..... 527464 2,845,154 7 1958 Duffield.52/464 x 3,363,381 1/1968 Forrest..." 5 2/4 4 3,553,918 1/1971DaUS0ll.... 52/464 X 2,640,722 6/1953 Hosking 52/468 X 3,199,258 8/1965Jentoft et a1"... 52/468 x 3,342,000 9/1967 Cripe 52/468 x 3,688,4609/1972 Van Loghem et al. 52/468 x Primary ExaminerJordan FranklinAssistant Examiner-Wayne L. Shedd Att0rneyHolc0mbe, Wetherill, Brisebois5 7 ABSTRACT Trim panels are held on by clips each of which has: aplurality of pegs or other means by which it may be applied to or engagea support; lugs or projections arranged to locate the adjacent edges oftwo panels against the clipj and means to engage and retain a tinishingmould which is adapted to retain the panels against the clip and coverthe joint between the panels.

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PANEL SPACING AND HOLDING CLIP Theinvention relates to a clip for the assembly of unstressed panels toframe members and is particularly applicable to the assembly of interiortrim panels to body frames in the bodywork of a passenger servicevehicle, such as a bus or coach.

The invention is concerned with enabling panels to be assembled toframes with a finished mould over the joints between adjacent panels ina manner requiring very much less skilled labour than the traditionalpractice of screwing or rivetting the panels to the structure and thensecuring the finishing mould with further screws.

In accordance with the invention a clip has: a plurality of pegs orother means by which it may be applied to or engage a support; lugs orprojections arranged to locate the adjacent edges of two panels againstthe clip; and means to engage and retain a finishing mould which isadapted to retain the panels against the clip and cover the jointbetween the panels.

How the invention may be carried out will now be described, by way ofexample only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a clip constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the clip in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the clip in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view taken in the direction of the arrow B inFIG. 4. V

The clip comprises a first portion 1 which has two pegs 2a and 2b formedon one of its sides, the pegs being adapted to locate in apertures 3 ina metal support 4. A resilient socket portion 5 is formed on the otherside of the first portion 1 and is adapted to engage and retain afinishing mould 6.

The socket portion comprises two projections 5a and 5b formed on thefirst portion 1, the projections 5a and 5b being part cylindrical inshape in order to accommodate a correspondingly cylindrical shapedportion 6a of the finishing mould 6.

The clip has two second portions 7a and 7b which are connected to thefirst portion 1 by webs 8a and 8b, the two second portions 7a and 7bhaving a gap 9 between them which is aligned with the socket portion 5.

Lugs or projections 10a and 10b are formed on the two second portions 7aand 7b respectively and define the edges of the gap 9. The lugs orprojections 10a and 10b are adapted to locate the adjacent edges of twotrim panels 11 and 12 respectively against the clip.

The finishing mould 6 has a facing portion 6b which covers the gapbetween the two trim panels 11 and 12.

The whole of the clip is moulded in one piece from a synthetic plasticsmaterial. The pegs 2a and'2b are formed with two indentations 13 (FIG.I) on one side of the peg and a third indentation 14 (FIG. 5) on theother side of the peg in order to make the peg resilient so that it canpass through the aperture 3 in the support 4 and then regain itsoriginal shape to locate the clip against the support 4.

The socket portions 50 and 5b are also dimensioned to make themresilient so that the cylindrical portion 6a in the finishing mould canbe snapped into the socket portions and be retained therein.

Variations may be made to the clip described above without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

For example, the lugs 10a and 10b can have a second portion whichextends parallel to the portions 7a and 7b respectively inorder toenclose the edge of the respective trim panels. Variations may also bemade in the shape of the first portion 1, the second portions 7a and 7band the connecting webs 8a and 8b.

Furthermore, instead of the clip having integral pegs 2a, 2b formounting it on the support, the first portion 1 can carry a separatecarrier member which itself has means for engaging in apertures in thesupport. For example, the separate carrier member could be made of metaland comprise a pressed metal member having a portion which engages thefirst portion 1 and having projections which engage in the aperture 3 inthe support 4.

The clip described and shown has been designed for mounting internaltrim panels in the body of a bus. The bus body is of integralconstruction and comprises a se ries of frame members each of whichincludes two uprights, one on each side of the body and a roof member orroof-stick which interconnects two up-rights. Each of the up-rights hasa plurality of apertures formed in it into which the pegs 2a, 2b ofclips as shown in the drawings can be inserted. After all the clips havebeen mounted on the up-rights the trim panels are then located againstthe clips, by the lugs 10a, 10b and the finishing moulds 6 are thensnapped into place.

By this method of mounting the frame panels, a considerable reduction inassembly time is achieved. Furthermore, less skill is required to mountthe panels than is the case when conventional methods employing screwingor rivetting the panels to the structure and then securing the finishingmould with further screws.

I claim:

I. A clip comprising:

a. a main portion,

b. resilient catch means on one side of said main portion,

c. resilient socket means on the opposite side of said main portion fromsaid catch means,

d. two projections extending from said opposite side of said mainportion on opposite sides of said socket means and defining therebetweena gap affording access to said socket means, and

e. locating means formed on said projections adjacent said gap.

2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the said first portion, thesaid resilient catch means, the said resilient socket portion, the saidtwo projections, and the said locating means are all formed from asynthetic plastics material and are all integral with one another.

3. A clip comprising:

a. a main portion;

b. a carrier member having resilient peg means,

adapted to snap into apertures in a support member and being adapted toengage one side of said main portion;

c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of said mainportion;

d. two projections connected to the said main portion and located on thesaid opposite side thereof, and defining therebetween a gap which isaligned with said socket means; and

e. locating means formed on the said two projections adjacent the saidgap.

4. A clip comprising:

a. a main portion;

b. resilient catch means carrier on one side of the said main portion;

c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of said mainportion;

7 d. webs extending from said main portion in the opposite direction tothe said catch means;

e. two panel-supporting portions connected to the said webs and locatedon the said opposite side of the said first portion;

f. the two said panel-supporting portions defining a gap which isaligned with said socket means; and

g. locating means formed on the said two panelsupporting portionsadjacent the said gap.

5. A clip comprising:

a. a main portion which has a plurality of pegs formed on one side, thepegs being adapted to be snap-fit in apertures in a support;

b. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of the said mainportion and adapted to retain a finishing mould therein;

c. twopanel-supporting portions connected to the said first portion bywebs and defining therebetween a gap which is aligned with the saidsocket means; and

d. lugs formed on the two panel-supporting portions which define theedges of the said gap and are adapted to locate the adjacent edges oftwo panels.

6. A clip as claimed in claim in which the lugs extend normally to thesaid two panel-supporting portions to form abutments against which theedges of supported panels can engage.

7. A clip as claimed in claim 5 in which each lug has a first partextending normally and a second part extending parallel-to itsrespective panel-supporting portion to define a U-shaped location forthe edge of the respective panel.

8. A clip as claimed in claim 5 in which the said socket means comprisestwo projections from the said main portion, the said projections beingspaced apart from one another and shaped to accommodate acorrespondingly shaped portion of a finishing mould.

9. A clip for holding a finishing mould having a cen' tral protuberancein position across a space between two panels, said clip comprising a. amain portion,

b. resilient catch means on one side of said main portion,

0. resilient socket means on the opposite side of said main portion fromsaid catch means for receiving said finishing mould protuberance,

d. two projections extending from said opposite side of said mainportion on opposite sides of said socket means and defining therebetweena gap affording access to said socket means, and

e. locating means for said panels formed on said projections adjacentsaid gap.

10. A clip for mounting panels on a support member and holding afinishing mould having a central protuberance in position across a spacebetween two of said panels, said clip comprising:

a. a main portion;

b. a carrier member having resilient peg means, adapted to snap intoapertures in said support member and being adapted to engage one side ofthe said main portion;

c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of said mainportion for receiving said finishing mould protuberance;

d. two projections connected to the said main portion and located on thesaid opposite side thereof, and defining therebetween a gap which isaligned with said socket means; and

e. locating means for said panels formed on the said two projectionsadjacent the said gap.

11. A clip for holding a finishing mould having a central protuberancein position across a space between two panels, said clip comprising:

a. a main portion;

b. resilient catch means carried on one side of the said main portion;

c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of the said mainportion for receiving said finishing mould protuberance;

d. webs extending from said main portion in the opposite direction tothe said catch means;

6. two panel-supporting portions connected to the said webs and locatedon the said opposite side of the said first portion;

f. the two said panel-supporting portions defining a gap which isaligned with said socket means; and

g. locating means for said panels formed on the said twopanel-supporting portions adjacent the said gap.

12. A slip for mounting panels on a support member and for holding afinishing mould having a central protuberance in position across a spacebetween two panels, said clip comprising:

a. a main portion which has a plurality of pegs formed on one side, thepegs being adapted to be snap-fit in apertures in said support;

b. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of the said mainportion and adapted to retain said finishing mould therein;

0. two panel-supporting portions connected to the said first portion bywebs and defining therebetween a gap which is aligned with the saidsocket means; and

d. lugs formed on the two panel-supporting portions which define theedges of the said gap and are adapted to locate the adjacent edges oftwo of said panels.

13. A device for mounting laterally spaced panels on a support memberand covering the gap between said spaced panels, and device comprising:

a finishing mould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gapand a central protuberance projecting away from said face portion, and

a clip comprising:

a. a main portion,

b. resilient catch means on one side of said main portion,

c. resilient socket means on the opposite side of said main portion fromsaid catch means,

d. two projections extending from said opposite side of said mainportion on opposite sides of said socket means and defining therebetweena gap affording access to said socket means for receiving saidprotuberance, and

e. locating means for said panels formed on said projections adjacentsaid gap.

14. A device for mounting laterally spaced panels on a support memberand covering the gap between said spaced panels, said device comprising:

a finishing mould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gapand a central protuberance projecting away from said face portion, and

a clip comprising:

a. a main portion;

b. a carrier member having resilient peg means, adapted to snap intoapertures in said support member and being adapted to engage one side ofthe said main portion;

c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of said mainportion for receiving said protuberance;

(1. two projections connected to the said main portion and located onthe said opposite side thereof, and defining therebetween a gap which isaligned with said socket means; and

e. locating means for said panels formed on the said two projectionsadjacent the said gap.

15. A device for mounting laterally spaced panels on a support memberand covering the gap between said spaced panels, said device comprising:

a finishing mould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gapand a central protuberance projecting away from said face portion, and

a clip comprising:

a. a main portion;

b. resilient catch means carried on one side of the said main portion;

c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of the said mainportion for receiving said portuberance;

d. webs extending from said main portion in the opposite direction tosaid catch means;

e. two panel-supporting portions connected to the said webs and locatedon the said opposite side of the said first portion;

f. the two said panel-supporting portions defining a gap which isaligned with said socket means; and

g. locating means formed on the said two panelsupporting portionsadjacent the said gap.

16. A device for mounting laterally spaced panels on a support memberand covering the gap between said spaced panels, said device comprising:

a finishing mould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gapand a central protuberance projecting away from said face portion, and

a clip comprising:

a. a main portion which has a plurality of pegs formed on one side, thepegs being adapted to be snap-fit in apertures in said support;

b. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of the said mainportion and adapted to retain said finishing mould therein;

c. two panelsupporting portions connected to the said first portion bywebs and defining therebetween a gap which is aligned with the saidsocket means; and

d. lugs formed on the two panel-supporting portions which define theedges of the said gap and are adapted to locate the adjacent edges oftwo UNITED STATES PATENT owmn (JERIIFICATE OF CORREUHWN Patent No. 3,77,95 Dated December 18 1973 Inventor(s) GERALD FOWLER It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

British Leyland Truck & Bus Division Ltd.,

[73] Assignee:

Leyland, Lancashire, England Signed and sealed this 16th day of April.197L5- (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD PLFLETCHERJR. Q C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents ORM PO-105O (10-69) v USCOMMqDC scan-ps9 W U-S. GOYERNMENTPRINTING OFFICE: I989 0-308-334.

1. A clip comprising: a. a main portion, b. resilient catch means on oneside of said main portion, c. resilient socket means on the oppositeside of said main portion from said catch means, d. two projectionsextending from said opposite side of said main portion on opposite sidesof said socket means and defining therebetween a gap affording access tosaid socket means, and e. locating means formed on said projectionsadjacent said gap.
 2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the saidfirst portion, the said resilient catch means, the said resilient socketportion, the said two projections, and the said locating means are allformed from a synthetic plastics material and are all integral with oneanother.
 3. A clip comprising: a. a main portion; b. a carrier memberhaving resilient peg means, adapted to snap into apertures in a supportmember and being adapted to engage one side of said main portion; c.resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of said main portion;d. two projections connected to the said main portion and located on thesaid opposite side thereof, and defining therebetween a gap which isaligned with said socket means; and e. locating means formed on the saidtwo projections adjacent the said gap.
 4. A clip comprising: a. a mainportion; b. resilient catch means carrier on one side of the said mainportion; c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of saidmain portion; d. webs extending from said main portion in the oppositedirection to the said catch means; e. two panel-supporting portionsconnected to the said webs and located on the said opposite side of thesaid first portion; f. the two said panel-supporting portions defining agap which is aligned with said socket means; and g. locating meansformed on the said two panel-supporting portions adjacent the said gap.5. A clip comprising: a. a main portion which has a plurality of pegsformed on one side, the pegs being adapted to be snap-fit in aperturesin a support; b. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side ofthe said main portion and adapted to retain a finishing mould therein;c. two panel-supporting portions connected to the said first portion bywebs and defining therebetween a gap which is aligned with the saidsocket means; and d. lugs formed on the two panel-supporting portionswhich define the edges of the said gap and are adapted to locate theadjacent edges of two panels.
 6. A clip as claimed in claim 5 in whichthe lugs extend normally to the said two panel-supporting portions toform abutments against which the edges of supported panels can engage.7. A clip as claimed in claim 5 in which each lug has a first partextending normally and a second part extending parallel to itsrespective panel-supporting portion to define a U-shaped location forthe edge of the respective panel.
 8. A clip as claimed in claim 5 inwhich the said socket means comprises two projections from the said mainportion, the said projections being spaced apart from one another andshaped to accommodate a correspondingly shaped portion of a finishingmould.
 9. A clip for holding a finishing mould having a centralprotuberance in position across a space between two panels, said clipcomprising a. a main portion, b. resilient catch means on one side ofsaid main portion, c. resilient socket means on the opposite side ofsaid main portion from said catch means for receiving said finishingmould protuberance, d. two projections extending from said opposite sideof said main portion on opposite sides of said socket means and definingtherebetween a gap affording access to said socket means, and e.locating means for said panels formed on said projections adjacent saidgap.
 10. A clip for mounting panels on a support member and holding afinishing mould having a central protuberance in position across a spacebetween two of said panels, said clip comprising: a. a main portion; b.a carrier member having resilient peg means, adapted to snap intoapertures in said support member and being adapted to engage one side ofthe said main portion; c. resilient socket means formed on the oppositeside of said main portion for receiving said finishing mouldprotuberance; d. two projections connected to the said main portion andlocated on the said opposite side thereof, and defining therebetween agap which is aligned with said socket means; and e. locating means forsaid panels formed on the said two projections adjacent the said gap.11. A clip for holding a finishing mould having a central protuberancein position across a space between two panels, said clip comprising: a.a main portion; b. resilient catch means carried on one side of the saidmain portion; c. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side ofthe said main portion for receiving said finishing mould protuberance;d. webs extending from said main portion in the opposite direction tothe said catch means; e. two panel-supporting portions connected to thesaid webs and located on the said opposite side of the said firstportion; f. the two said panel-supporting portions defining a gap whichis aligned with said socket means; and g. locating means for said panelsformed on the said two panel-supporting portions adjacent the said gap.12. A slip for mounting panels on a support member and for holding afinishing mould having a central protuberance in position across a spacebetweEn two panels, said clip comprising: a. a main portion which has aplurality of pegs formed on one side, the pegs being adapted to besnap-fit in apertures in said support; b. resilient socket means formedon the opposite side of the said main portion and adapted to retain saidfinishing mould therein; c. two panel-supporting portions connected tothe said first portion by webs and defining therebetween a gap which isaligned with the said socket means; and d. lugs formed on the twopanel-supporting portions which define the edges of the said gap and areadapted to locate the adjacent edges of two of said panels.
 13. A devicefor mounting laterally spaced panels on a support member and coveringthe gap between said spaced panels, and device comprising: a finishingmould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gap and a centralprotuberance projecting away from said face portion, and a clipcomprising: a. a main portion, b. resilient catch means on one side ofsaid main portion, c. resilient socket means on the opposite side ofsaid main portion from said catch means, d. two projections extendingfrom said opposite side of said main portion on opposite sides of saidsocket means and defining therebetween a gap affording access to saidsocket means for receiving said protuberance, and e. locating means forsaid panels formed on said projections adjacent said gap.
 14. A devicefor mounting laterally spaced panels on a support member and coveringthe gap between said spaced panels, said device comprising: a finishingmould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gap and a centralprotuberance projecting away from said face portion, and a clipcomprising: a. a main portion; b. a carrier member having resilient pegmeans, adapted to snap into apertures in said support member and beingadapted to engage one side of the said main portion; c. resilient socketmeans formed on the opposite side of said main portion for receivingsaid protuberance; d. two projections connected to the said main portionand located on the said opposite side thereof, and defining therebetweena gap which is aligned with said socket means; and e. locating means forsaid panels formed on the said two projections adjacent the said gap.15. A device for mounting laterally spaced panels on a support memberand covering the gap between said spaced panels, said device comprising:a finishing mould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gapand a central protuberance projecting away from said face portion, and aclip comprising: a. a main portion; b. resilient catch means carried onone side of the said main portion; c. resilient socket means formed onthe opposite side of the said main portion for receiving saidportuberance; d. webs extending from said main portion in the oppositedirection to said catch means; e. two panel-supporting portionsconnected to the said webs and located on the said opposite side of thesaid first portion; f. the two said panel-supporting portions defining agap which is aligned with said socket means; and g. locating meansformed on the said two panel-supporting portions adjacent the said gap.16. A device for mounting laterally spaced panels on a support memberand covering the gap between said spaced panels, said device comprising:a finishing mould having a face portion dimensioned to cover said gapand a central protuberance projecting away from said face portion, and aclip comprising: a. a main portion which has a plurality of pegs formedon one side, the pegs being adapted to be snap-fit in apertures in saidsupport; b. resilient socket means formed on the opposite side of thesaid main portion and adapted to retain said finishing mould therein; c.two panel-supporting portions connected to the said first portion bywebs and defining therebetween a gap which is aligned with the saidSocket means; and d. lugs formed on the two panel-supporting portionswhich define the edges of the said gap and are adapted to locate theadjacent edges of two of said panels.